OK, I AM picky. It has to be GOOD Science Fiction. I want likeable characters, an interestingplot, and believable science (with allowances for the classic dictum that any sufficientlyadvanced science could well be indistinguishable from magic).

Sarah Hoyt is an experienced writer of historical fiction, romance, fantasy, urban fantasy andyes, science fiction. Darkship Thieves is Sarah's first venture into space opera for Baen Books. However, DST is more than just Space Opera. It is part thriller and part adventure with just atouch of quirky romance, all set in a future that may not be all that different from our ownpresent. Why would I call it a thriller and adventure novel? Well, in addition to Science Fiction,I also like to read thrillers and adventure. Spy novels by Ludlum and Le Carré, adventure byCussler and Clancy and psychological thrillers by Koontz and Sandford. There is one feature ofall of these novels styles that stands out - investment in a character, and an overwhelming urgeto pick the protagonist up, shake them by the neck, and shout: "I figured this out, why can't you!" Instead, we keep reading until late at night (or early in the morning), just one more page - surelythey'll figure it out on the next page.

You know what I'm talking about - the same urge that drives people to watch those slashermovies where you want to tell the clueless college student "DON'T go in the attic! That's wherethe bad guy is hiding, can't you SEE it?"

It's called psychological investment, or identification, with a character. In the writing craft, that'swhat keeps you turning page after page long after your spouse has gone to bed. You HAVE toread that next page because you want to see the hero get the reward, although much morefrequently, you want to see the villain get their just desserts.

In Darkship Thieves, Athena Hera Sinistra is the daughter of one of Earth's most rich andpowerful men. She accompanies him on a routine trip, playing the dutiful social accessorydespite her naturally rebellious nature. However a mutiny on her father's spaceship forces herinto an escape pod headed directly for the ancient and deadly Powertree Ring that "grows" powerpods for Earth's energy needs. Despite the risk of crashing into an explosive pod, she insteadcrashes into a dark and furtive ship that is stealing power pods for a colony that Earth doesn'tknow exists. These "darkship thieves" are the descendents of Earth's aborted attempt togenetically engineer a race of superior humans many hundreds of years ago.

'Thena is rescued by Kit, the pilot and lone occupant of the darkship. Despite Thena's wish toreturn to Earth, Kit rescues her from her own folly and takes her back to the Eden colony. Tosay that Thena is displeased with her rescuer and status as an unwilling exile is anunderstatement. Athena Hera Sinistra is a deeply flawed character, raised nearly in isolationfrom mainstream society. She rebels against nearly every authority figure in her life and is thedespair of many schools, tutor, doctors and hospital. Her contempt for the same is revealed onmany occasions, but despite all this, Thena is a likable character. There is a REASON she is thisway, and when Thena discovers it, as well as the truth about "Daddy Dearest" the reader is rightthere cheering her on.

In Darkship Thieves, Sarah Hoyt has created characters we can believe - flawed, but worthwhile,and on this voyage of self-discovery, including the most humorous romance I'VE ever read inScience Fiction, the reader is right there along with Thena and Kit, cheering them on, andsometimes wanting to pick Thena up by the scruff of her neck, shake her, and shout: "*I* figuredout what 'Daddy Dearest' is up to, why can't YOU?"

Sarah Hoyt has created an enjoyable read that should please fans of urban fantasy, sciencefiction, and even diehard adventure/thriller fans, too. And when you think about it, there's justenough suggestion that maybe there's more to this story than can fit in one novel. Here's hopingfor more great characters from Sarah Hoyt.